Vista Brook Pump Station

Friday, October 9, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Stephen,
I want to thank you and BES staff for the presentation delivered at the Garden Home Neighborhood meeting on Th, 9/24/2009, evening. Although your presentation regarding a new secondary pump station design was very informative, many questions remain unanswered regarding this project.

I have a couple of questions below:
1) Specifically, I asked you about a reference made during the Maplewood NA meeting on 6/8/2009. The attached meeting minutes reflect your statement pertaining to "cracks developing in the Fanno Basic line due to winter storm water pressure." Can you please expand, in detail, on the location and severity of these cracks? Also, what risk maybe posed to the Fanno gravity line currently in operation, including any discharge into Fanno Creek should that line fail in the future?

2) Notwithstanding the future pump station construction, has the completion date of the existing plastic pressure line replacement and current pump station repair still targeted for completion by early 2010? This was the original completion estimate given in the Fanno Creek resident notices distributed in April/May 2008 and on your Website. If not, what is the new completion estimate and when is it expected that the "old pump station system" will be in operation and functional..

3) When, if ever, does BES plan to stop discharging "partially treated" sewage into Fanno Creek during a severe event, defined as "2 inches of rain in a 24hr period" as a backup plan. Surely, you must be aware that there have been two flooding events, during the last 2 years, that have caused Fanno Creek to rise higher than the 1996 flood mark. I understand no sewage was "released" during the last event, although it came "pretty close". Clearly, when Fanno Creek has already overflowed its banks would be the worst possible time to discharge any sewage into the creek flow. It appears that BES's current backup plan would do just that. Please expand with some details regarding discharge rates or correct me if wrong.

In addition, most residents in the immediate neighborhood, myself included, remain very concerned. Theses concerns are magnified by BES's lack of community involvement, information, and follow-through regarding the history, current state, and future plans of this evolving and seemingly endless project. I trust BES is committed to addressing the communities concerns and questions. As such, your quick response is much appreciated.
Regards,
Frank DiBenedetto frank.dibenedetto@att.net

Frank,

I apologize for the delayed response to your questions.
1) I believe this is the quote that you are referring to (taken from the Maplewood 6/8/2009 NA mtg):

"The pipe line is ten years old and there has been a problem with the pipe joints in the pressure line from day one. In addition the Fanno Basic (sic) has developed cracks in the system. The Winter storm water put more pressure on the line."

I interpret this notation from Maplewood NA to refer to two different parts of the entire Fanno basin system. The first sentence refers to the Fanno forcemain. The second and third sentences refer to the collection and conveyance system of sewer pipes that are in the Fanno basin. Collection and conveyance systems refers to the sewer pipes that are in residential and commercial districts.

The cracks that I was referring to are the ones that are in the sewer collection and conveyance pipes throughout the Fanno Basin. I was not referring to any cracks in the Fanno forcemain.

The reference to winter storm water putting more pressure on the line is a reference to the increase in flows to the Fanno pump station that BES sees during the wet months of the year. Once the ground becomes saturated in fall, older sewer pipes that have cracks in them experience an increased amount of inflow of stormwater each time that it rains.

2) In response to your second question: "Notwithstanding the future pump station construction, has the completion date of the existing plastic pressure line replacement and current pump station repair still targeted for completion by early 2010? This was the original completion estimate given in the Fanno Creek resident notices distributed in April/May 2008 and on your Website. If not, what is the new completion estimate and when is it expected that the "old pump station system" will be in operation and functional.."

Response: the current construction period to replace the single plastic pressure line with two metal pressure lines is expected to start in March 2010 and be completed by November 1, 2010. We are planning to have the current pump station (and associated pressure line capacity or "old pump station system") operational by November 2010.

3) In response to your third question: When, if ever, does BES plan to stop discharging "partially treated" sewage into Fanno Creek during a severe event, defined as "2 inches of rain in a 24hr period" as a backup plan. Surely, you must be aware that there have been two flooding events, during the last 2 years, that have caused Fanno Creek to rise higher than the 1996 flood mark. I understand no sewage was "released" during the last event, although it came "pretty close". Clearly, when Fanno Creek has already overflowed its banks would be the worst possible time to discharge any sewage into the creek flow. It appears that BES's current backup plan would do just that. Please expand with some details regarding discharge rates or correct me if wrong.

Response: Here is an excerpt from the project website (www.portlandonline.com/bes/fanno) that answers your questions:

"If the Fanno Pressure Sewer is activated during an extreme rain storm to pump sewage to the Portland sewer system, and if the pressure sewer fails after being activated, this backup system will pump some sewage from the gravity system to relieve pressure on the sewer and prevent uncontrolled overflows downstream. The sewage pumped from the gravity line at the Fanno Pump Station will flow through an aboveground, screened vault to remove solids and debris.

The highly diluted, partially treated wastewater will then be discharged to Fanno Creek. This relief system will remain in place for the next two years, until the project to replace the Fanno Pressure Sewer is complete. The repaired Fanno Force Main has been activated twice, once in January 2009 and February 2009. The relief system has not been activated."

Note that BES plans to remove this emergency relief system after the "old pump station system" is operational in November 2010. I don't have specific information regarding discharge rates but would be happy to obtain them if you can clarify your question; are you requesting the specific volume that the relief system can produce? Keep in mind that because the relief system capacity is variable, I am not able to say the exact volume of partially treated highly diluted wasterwater that would enter Fanno creek during one of these emergency events.

In closing, I reiterate my apology for not responding more quickly. Please continue to send questions to me that you would like explained. Additionally, I am available by phone and can continue to make visits to the site to meet with concerned neighbors.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009

By what authority does the city of Portland have dictating what happens in Washington County? Isn't their authority limited to Multnomah county?

Response: The City of Portland was issued a permit from Washington County to construct and operate the existing Fanno pump station. I do understand that historically the City of Portland has owned and operated multiple pump stations that have served the basin. As we discussed at the public meeting last week, five older pump stations (roughly 1950's era) were replaced by the Fanno Pump Station (Fanno PS) when it came online in late 1999. I don't have the specific details of the agreement between Portland and Washington County regarding the 'authority' referred to in this question. I do know that the flows that the Fanno system manages have not and are not predicted to be sent to any other agency anytime in the future. This seems relevant if the questioner is interested in understanding why the facility is located where it is, i.e. outside of Multnomah County, (historically, this area has been treated by the City of Portland). Service districts and county lines rarely meet up as 'black and white' distinctions at their borders.

As an aside, some have asked if the five older stations could be rehabilitated to replace the Fanno pump station. It is relevant to note that most (if not all) of these five stations have been removed or deconstructed. One was formerly sited at the SE corner of SW 45th Ave and SW Vermont. This location is currently occupied by the front steps and door of the SW Community Center.

Why don't they build this facility in Multnomah County?

Response: Some, but not all, of the five older pump stations that Fanno PS replaced were in Multnomah County. However, when the Fanno PS was designed it needed to be at (or near) the lowest point, (in terms of elevation), in the Fanno basin in order to collect all of the flows. The Fanno PS receives the wastewater that comes to it by gravity. This spot that I am referring to, (the lowest elevation in the Fanno basin) is not located in Multnomah County, it is located, more or less, where the existing Fanno PS is located, which is clearly in Washington County.

So, from the perspective of both of the above questions, it seems most appropriate to restate that historically the City of Portland has been, and will continue to be, responsible for treating the wastewater from the Fanno basin. In order to collect these flows of wastewater the pump station needed to be located where it is currently located near the Portland Golf Club. Moving the existing pump station, for example, east into Multnomah County would not allow the pump station to collect wastewater from the Fanno basin by gravity since this supposed location would be at a higher elevation than the existing site.

Who is the FINAL deciding authority on this project? What involvement does (sic) Washington County authorities have in this?

Response: It is difficult to identify a 'final' authority because of the complexity of permitting a project such as this one. If the questioner could provide a more detailed question I may be able to share more relevant information. That being said, BES will apply to Washington County for a land use review and eventually building permits for this facility. Washington County will also facilitate some of the other permits needed for this project, (i.e. needed permits issued by other agencies such as Clean Water Services for example).

I am sharing these responses with the group of residents that has emailed me since 9.18.09. The majority of these residents seem to be in, or near, the Vista Brook neighborhood and could therefore benefit from these responses. Thank you for taking the time to send me these questions.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

In receiving responses from circulars delivered regarding the historical time line, I have gathered that I need to get in touch with two neighbors who can give an historical perspective. Mike Dennis, who with his wife Mary, live on the creek at the bridge across from us. He is an engineer that can help. He has been so busy this past week, but his wife Mary said he plans to attend this meeting. I have not met him as yet.

Another gentleman named Paul, was the secretary for the Fanno Creek Pond Association. He is also difficult to get in touch with, but I hope his input will help.

If you wish, please call Marie. She has been in phone contact with neighbors have given us information. We both will be attending other prior events, but plan on leaving them so we can arrive at 8 tonight.

A number of emails and calls have all been very supportive of being kept informed.

Here is one more key performer that may provide energy…but at what cost we shall see.

Thanks for keeping us informed about the plans for doubling the size of the Fanno Creek Sewage Pump Station. I am mad as hell about this situation and will do whatever I can to stop it. I was opposed to the pump station 5-6 years (?) ago when it was originally proposed to us by BES. I was and continue to be amazed and aghast that the City of Portland chose to pump sewage uphill to North Portland when it could have used gravity to send it downhill to Washington County. I asked why couldnt Portland simply invest in increasing the capacity of Washington Co's (Clean Water Services' sewage treatment plant and send the sewage downhill to them, thereby saving tremendous quantities of energy over the year of operation. I never received a direct and clear answer to my question. Although folks at Clean Water Services told me that it was Portland's decision not to follow this path.

It appear to me that the sewage is currently going to Washington County as an interim measure. Why not just keep on doing it that way? Why throw good money after bad? Why invest in a system that will only get more costly in the future as fuel prices rise? Why create a larger carbon footprint for Portland? Please ask these questions of Commissioner Saltzman.

Once construction started on the sewer line, workmen laid out and installed large sections of pipe. I walked by many times and watched the work in progress. Apparently BES inspectors did not inspect the work since just a few years later, I discovered a leak in the pipe which leaked into Fanno Creek for approximately 48 hours. The official word from BES was that the pipe had failed due to the fact that the contractor had used the wrong type of pipe. Was this just ex-post-facto reasoning? Were they saying that any pipe that would fail this soon was the wrong pipe or did the pipe not meet some objective standard? If I could watch the pipe being installed, so could BES supervisors and inspectors. Why didnt they identify the shortcomings of the pipe and immediately stop the project so that the correct pipe could be installed? How did this situation occur and who was responsible for inspection and oversight of the project?

The Garden Home/Vista Brook neighborhood, which is not serviced by this plant, has already been inconvenienced by construction, maintenance and repairs to the existing system. Neighbors (the Kostiners) have moved from a home that they otherwise loved due to the threat of construction of the new larger facility in their backyard. I wonder how many other have also moved for this reason and how many more will in the future? What will happen to the noise levels, vibrations and property values in our neighborhood? What will be the downstream flooding effects from the new pump station? Where will sewage go if there is a power outage?......

These are my concerns about the proposed larger sewage pump station on Fanno Creek. Thanks for asking and thanks for organizing the neighborhood. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any way. I was the cofounder of Fans of Fanno Creek and a biologist by training. We've lived at 7040 SW 84th for 21 years.

I'm sending this to a smaller group of us - just wanted to run some stuff by you for tomorrow night. I talked to Patt from the CP03 today and she gave us some suggestions:

-Make it clear to Stephen Sykes (and whomever he brings with him) that this is our meeting. Introduce him, and let him know that he has 20-25 minutes max to present, followed by 30 minutes of Q & A.

-Make it clear (I can do this) that when his portion is done, we will close his involvement in the meeting and continue on to our own business. We can do our own business from 8 - 9.

-Before he speaks, set up some ground rules (I can do this) such as: we will let him finish before we ask questions, people wanting to ask questions should raise their hands, introduce ourselves and wait to be acknowledged before speaking, etc.

-We have asked Stephen to bring hard or electronic copies of information for people that cannot stay the whole time. We've also asked him only to talk about the Pump Station - not other aspects of the pipeline project.

Here are a few things we need to do (if you agree!) - and I was wondering if each of us could volunteer to do one:

-Patt suggested recording the meeting. Does someone (Angie?) have a tape recorder or video recorder they can bring and operate during the meeting?

-Can someone bring a "sign in sheet" for attendees and extra pens and paper. We might also want a section that says "special expertise" if it is a lawyer signing in, or an environmental specialist, etc.

-We need to collect $$ and pay $18 an hour BEFORE we arrive at the room at 7 PM on Thursday evening. If we are there 2 - 1/2 hours that would be $45.

-We are using an overhead projector (old school) that Garden Home is loaning us. Does anyone have access to plastic sheets (one or two) and some sharpies?

-Would anyone volunteer to copy the site plan onto velum (plastic) at Kinkos so we can put it on the overhead projector and show people? I have it here at my house...

-Would a tech-savy person be willing to visit: www.blogspot.com and set up a name (it's free! and easy I've heard) so we can direct our group to one site in the future. Even if we don't have the blog ready, we can tell everyone at the meeting where to go for information and to be part of our group.